Phillies tee off on Freeland for three homers in 9-3 romp over Rockies

Rockies Report, Game 40:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: The first nine pitches of Kyle Freeland’s third inning saw two home runs, two singles, no outs and four runs on the board, all of which were enough to doom the Rockies to defeat at Citizens Bank Park.

Alec Bohm’s leadoff homer ignited the outburst — and his own 4-RBI night. Kyle Schwarber’s 3-RBI shot into the second deck of the right-field stands wrapped up the inning-opening flurry, although the Phillies would add another run before the inning concluded. And when it was done, Philadelphia had all the runs it would need in what would become a 9-3 rout.

The Rockies quickly rallied for a pair of runs to cut the lead to 5-3, and it was thanks to a successful ABS challenge by Jake McCarthy, whose quick eye turned a strikeout into a two-out walk to keep the threat alive. That set up Kyle Karros for a 2-RBI double that cut the Phillies’ lead in half.

Karros drives in 2⃣ pic.twitter.com/9cZJLUxEF1

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 9, 2026

But that would be the extent of the Rockies’ offense for the evening. Meanwhile, Bohm quickly pushed Philadelphia’s lead to three runs with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning. Brandon Marsh added to the edge with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly. Bohm capped his massive night with a 2-RBI double in the eighth inning at the expense of Tanner Gordon, who worked three innings of relief.

Colorado fell to 16-24 and saw its two-game winning streak end.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Those nine pitches in the third inning sent Freeland’s night spiraling, but the greater concern is the fact that he’s allowed five home runs in his last two starts after giving up two in his first five starts of the season. The three home runs yielded were the most he’s allowed in his last 19 starts, since last July 25. That night, all were of the solo variety.

He had no such luck Saturday night. Freeland’s ERA now sits at 6.00, and his WHIP in his last two starts is 2.25.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Colorado couldn’t do anything with its only baserunner in the sixth through eighth innings — TJ Rumfield, who was plunked by Chase Shugart and advanced no farther than first base.

NUMBER TO NOTE: 3 — Members of the Rockies’ intended Opening Day rotation with earned-run averages of at least 6.00: Freeland (6.00), Michael Lorenzen (6.92) and Ryan Feltner (6.30).

WHAT’S NEXT: The series finale, with Tomoyuki Sugano getting the call against Cristopher Sánchez. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 11:35 a.m. MDT.

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